Claire
Master Chef
OK, the big no-no, and I don't see anyone else addressing it (if I've missed something, please feel free to delete and redirect me, site moderators).
What do we do about the garden (and soul!) destroying critters. Most of my friends are complaining about rabbits and deer. Luckily I only see deer in my neighborhood in the dead of winter, and usually harsh ones at that (when I was dog-less, one year a doe to residence in our yard for a day and we loved it! But it was a harsh winter, no plant life was involved). Rabbits have not been an issue in my yard, even for the year I was dog free, although I know they live in neighboring yards.
But for me the problem is insects. Especially in my greens patch. As far as I can see the culprits are earwigs (pincher bugs) and rolly pollies (I'm sure there's a real name for both of them). So far they seem impervious to so-called "natural" remedies. I don't know if they're the problem, or some other bug I cannot see. In one garden there seems to be a very small, worm-ish creature in the soil (NOT earthworms; them I've been known to move to where I think they are needed, these are really small, less than an inch long, and very thin).
Right now my greens bed is empty (already got a crop of spinach and one of romaine out of it, can get one more in before the neighboring tomato bed takes over). If I can treat the soil with some kind of insecticide, then wait for awhile and plant a new lettuce crop (before it gets too hot and the tomatoes decide to live there) for one last one, it would be nice. Any ideas?
Otherwise next summer I may just do the soil sterilization bit (black plastic over it for a summer and bake the things). I hate to do that, because right now I have greens, herbs and tomatoes right out my kitchen door.
What do we do about the garden (and soul!) destroying critters. Most of my friends are complaining about rabbits and deer. Luckily I only see deer in my neighborhood in the dead of winter, and usually harsh ones at that (when I was dog-less, one year a doe to residence in our yard for a day and we loved it! But it was a harsh winter, no plant life was involved). Rabbits have not been an issue in my yard, even for the year I was dog free, although I know they live in neighboring yards.
But for me the problem is insects. Especially in my greens patch. As far as I can see the culprits are earwigs (pincher bugs) and rolly pollies (I'm sure there's a real name for both of them). So far they seem impervious to so-called "natural" remedies. I don't know if they're the problem, or some other bug I cannot see. In one garden there seems to be a very small, worm-ish creature in the soil (NOT earthworms; them I've been known to move to where I think they are needed, these are really small, less than an inch long, and very thin).
Right now my greens bed is empty (already got a crop of spinach and one of romaine out of it, can get one more in before the neighboring tomato bed takes over). If I can treat the soil with some kind of insecticide, then wait for awhile and plant a new lettuce crop (before it gets too hot and the tomatoes decide to live there) for one last one, it would be nice. Any ideas?
Otherwise next summer I may just do the soil sterilization bit (black plastic over it for a summer and bake the things). I hate to do that, because right now I have greens, herbs and tomatoes right out my kitchen door.